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Now that took me by surprise. Much less of D than I expected, so initially I took off some points for lack of action. And I'm sure many fanboy reviews will harp on this. But on second viewing,I threw my expectations out the window and enjoyed it so much that I have to give it a solid A.
The teaser was brilliant as it showed us raw footage from the wedding day that told much but by no means all of the story. Far from ruining the suspense of the climax à la Spirit, it did its job by wetting my appetite for more. The best part was Clois's testimonial to the happy couple. Clark promises a safe day (foreshadowing the opposite) and Lois passes on The General's wisdom that a marriage is the only war where you get to sleep with the enemy. :-) I loved the look on her face and her plea to the videographer to cut that bit. And indeed that part of the scene is cut from the main episode.
Act One begins with Lois running a tight ship to transform the Kent barn (KB) into a space fit for her cousin's wedding. Why oh why did Chimmy pick the barn of all places? Maybe most of the normal places around Smallville have been destroyed in various meteor attacks and what's left were booked years in advance. Maybe they're just looking to stretch their wedding budget a little further. Just accept it and move on. My only quibble is I would have had Shelby in at least one scene. Come on, Chloe is his friend too! Anyways, I love the way Lois was running through her wedding day checklist to keep everyone on time. It calls back to her organization of Jonathan's election campaign and of course growing up with the General. It shows us some of the skills that will help this particular version of Lois be so effective as a reporter.
Jimmy shows up and against all cliché, he's perfectly calm and totally content. He tries to do some matchmaking for Lois and Clark, letting her know that Clark's bantering with her is the guy version of Flirtation 101. Lois is intrigued but then brushes off the suggestion. Jimmy heads to the Talon to pick up his bowtie and unexpectedly runs into Chloe. His worst fear has now been realized: this is bad luck of the Hindenburg variety. Chloe reassures him that having survived everything else Smallville can throw at them, their love can survive this. Why oh why are people so determined to jinx the wedding day? Chloe then gets a voice mail from Davis asking her to call: she ignores it, but lies to Jimmy.
Back at the Kent farmhouse (KF), Ollie unexpectedly drops in to tell Clark that Lex is alive. He's communicating with Mercy via a wireless ghost router from around the world, but Ollie always arrives too late to intercept. He asks for Clark's help but Clark says today is out. He then explains about not restoring Chloe's memories of his powers, so not being at her wedding simply isn't an option. Ollie thinks Clark is just making excuses for Lex: Chloe may not know but Lex still does.
Act Two starts with Ollie on his jet. I guess this meant to symbolize Ollie as a man of action, with undertones of jet set playboy. It probably helps from a budget point of view that the set is not much bigger than a closet. Still, they could at least get some better establishing shots. Clark shows up with the router but is concerned when he sees that Ollie is studying up on his parents' death. Clark is worried that Ollie is looking for vengeance and tries to share his experience with that, to no avail. Clark leaves with the router saying that they can investigate tomorrow. Ollie is angered at the delay but his henchman says no worry: he downloaded the router while Collie were having their "lover's spat". :-) Collie is canon!
Back at KB, Chloe looks lovely in her wedding gown. She thanks Lois for all her work, then gets another voice message from Davis. She tells Lois about Davis nearly kissing her, but says all she wants is Jimmy. All she needs now is something borrowed to complete her wardrobe, so she starts ruffling around the loft. She find's Clark's lead box and thinks it would be a great idea for Clark to carry the green K down the aisle. Umm, Chloe, even as mindwiped as you are, surely you remember the Wall of Weird and YOUR theory about the meteor rocks being responsible. Oh well, put it down to a morbid sense of humour. Clark arrives and tells her to put the rock away: he's got a much better idea. He opens a year book and pulls out a pressed white rose: its the one Chloe gave him at the spring formal. ♥ ♥ ♥ Both Chloe and Lois are touched that he kept it: he says he never throws out good memories.
Meanwhile, Ollie has flown to Cuba and stalks into a warehouse. Without warning, he shoot at a figure in the dark. He says goodbye to Lex but then finds out he only shot a mannequin. A figure then comes out of the dark and kicks him. Its Lana!
Act Three begins with Lana saying that she also has been pursuing the transmissions, although she's not convinced Lex is alive. Lana is also perturbed that Ollie/GA thought he was going to kill Lex: he should be better than that. If they're trying to be the good guys, they should all try to be more like Clark. She then asks how Clark is doing: Ollie tells her to go to the wedding and see for herself. It's what Clark would do after all.
Back at the KF, Clois prepare for their roles in the big day. As usual, Clark needs help getting dressed up. ♥ Lois reveals that the secret to cufflinks is to make sure this part is straight upright so it can slide right in. ♥ They exchange awkward looks, then Lois gives him Jimmy's vows and starts to move away. She is then thrilled to hear Clark saying words of love, but is shaken when she realizes he's just reading the vows. The cameraman suddenly appears and asks them to give testimonials. Relieved at the interruption, they agree.
Cut to Davis, covered in blood, calling Chloe for help. He starts hauling garbage bags filled with gore to a dumpster but is surprised by a security guard. Davis says he couldn't control himself then warns the watchman to get away. He then staggers & starts to transform into something that then attacks and kills the horrifed watchman. Short scene but really effective.
Back at the KB, Chlark dance at the wedding reception. He tells her she was always the best friend he could ever have had: she's surprised at the past tense. She then tells him she's completely happy and feels like she has finally let go of a weight she'd been carrying around for years. Clark is saddened that his plan worked all too well. He then asks Lois to dance. What starts out as an act of social politeless turns into desire when Lois is unexpectedly knocked into his body. Seriously hot bit here with no dialogue. I want pictures!!! They move closer and are about to kiss when doom strikes. No, not that Doom. It's Lana. Lois moves away as Clark stares with puppy eyes at his former lover.
Act Four begins with Lois leaving the party with a bottle of champagne only to run into Ollie. She tells him she's having feelings for another man but is reluctanct to say more because of their past history. Ollie is really sweet when he tells her they should really move on and just let him be her friend. Lois tries to explain her turmoil at having feeling for this guy just sneak up on her and come to a peak today of all days and how maybe she got it wrong but she thought for once somebody needed her. Ollie comforts her that she wasn't wrong. He knows this because he knows Clark. ♥
In the loft, Lana gets a text message, "Did the archer believe you?" Ooh, she's still hiding something. Cool!! Clark enters and says that Chloe is happy she came but he could have done with some warning. The two natter on and Lana says she always dreamed of a wedding at the barn. Clark replies she might have got one if he'd given her Chloe's "wedding gift". Lana responds that she's forgiven him for the old lies but could never forgive him for taking the memory of who he is. Despite everything, she's content with where she is now. Clark concludes the obvious: it really is over. Phew! Lana says it hasn't been easy to move on but they need to admit they were never meant to be.
Attracted by celebration noises in the barn, Clana return to the party as Chimmy cut the wedding cake. But the barn starts to shake and then the lights start to flicker. Something punches through the wall and a beam falls on Lana. A scaly creature appears out of the darkness and stalks towards Chloe, spreading mayhem with each step. Clark is initially frozen but moves forward to stop it. The creature easily blocks his punch and swats him into the loft, where he is immobilized by the kryptonite that Chloe had taken out earlier. The cameraman is next to fall, leaving the camera running to document the horror. Jimmy tries to defend Chloe but is nearly eviscerated. Lana, though wounded, rushes to Clark and locks away the kryptonite. But its too late: Ollie tells them Chloe's been taken.
Now that's what I call a wedding to remember!
Act Five begins in the hospital , overflowing with victims of D's rampage. Clark checks up on Lana and she tells him to go find Chloe. He meets Lois who tells him that Jimmy's situation is severe: he's being medevac'd to STAR City for specialized treatment. Lois decides to go with him, in part because of heartache over Clark and in part because she needs to keep busy. She asks Clark why such horrible things keep happening. Clark struggles to comfort her while dealing with his own guilt and grief. He promises they'll get Chloe back, but Lois is afraid the won't. She walks away in tears.
Then we have a montage to the tune of "Don't take your love away from me" by VAST to end the episode.
Wow. OK, so Lana returned and the world didn't end. She's kicked Ollie's ass as he deserved, but is being true to S7 Lana by keeping secrets from Clark. Who is she working with???? What's Brainiac up to with D? How on earth can Clark cope with two of his biggest enemies working together? What's Lex's agenda? Is he working with Brainiac, or will he eventually try to defeat him? Just what did the FOS do to/with him? The writers this season have definitely taken some lessons from the success of Lost and Heroes to heart: they're no longer worried about leaving threads dangling for multiple episodes. And yet, they still make each episode tell its own story as well. Kudos!
The teaser was brilliant as it showed us raw footage from the wedding day that told much but by no means all of the story. Far from ruining the suspense of the climax à la Spirit, it did its job by wetting my appetite for more. The best part was Clois's testimonial to the happy couple. Clark promises a safe day (foreshadowing the opposite) and Lois passes on The General's wisdom that a marriage is the only war where you get to sleep with the enemy. :-) I loved the look on her face and her plea to the videographer to cut that bit. And indeed that part of the scene is cut from the main episode.
Act One begins with Lois running a tight ship to transform the Kent barn (KB) into a space fit for her cousin's wedding. Why oh why did Chimmy pick the barn of all places? Maybe most of the normal places around Smallville have been destroyed in various meteor attacks and what's left were booked years in advance. Maybe they're just looking to stretch their wedding budget a little further. Just accept it and move on. My only quibble is I would have had Shelby in at least one scene. Come on, Chloe is his friend too! Anyways, I love the way Lois was running through her wedding day checklist to keep everyone on time. It calls back to her organization of Jonathan's election campaign and of course growing up with the General. It shows us some of the skills that will help this particular version of Lois be so effective as a reporter.
Jimmy shows up and against all cliché, he's perfectly calm and totally content. He tries to do some matchmaking for Lois and Clark, letting her know that Clark's bantering with her is the guy version of Flirtation 101. Lois is intrigued but then brushes off the suggestion. Jimmy heads to the Talon to pick up his bowtie and unexpectedly runs into Chloe. His worst fear has now been realized: this is bad luck of the Hindenburg variety. Chloe reassures him that having survived everything else Smallville can throw at them, their love can survive this. Why oh why are people so determined to jinx the wedding day? Chloe then gets a voice mail from Davis asking her to call: she ignores it, but lies to Jimmy.
Back at the Kent farmhouse (KF), Ollie unexpectedly drops in to tell Clark that Lex is alive. He's communicating with Mercy via a wireless ghost router from around the world, but Ollie always arrives too late to intercept. He asks for Clark's help but Clark says today is out. He then explains about not restoring Chloe's memories of his powers, so not being at her wedding simply isn't an option. Ollie thinks Clark is just making excuses for Lex: Chloe may not know but Lex still does.
Act Two starts with Ollie on his jet. I guess this meant to symbolize Ollie as a man of action, with undertones of jet set playboy. It probably helps from a budget point of view that the set is not much bigger than a closet. Still, they could at least get some better establishing shots. Clark shows up with the router but is concerned when he sees that Ollie is studying up on his parents' death. Clark is worried that Ollie is looking for vengeance and tries to share his experience with that, to no avail. Clark leaves with the router saying that they can investigate tomorrow. Ollie is angered at the delay but his henchman says no worry: he downloaded the router while Collie were having their "lover's spat". :-) Collie is canon!
Back at KB, Chloe looks lovely in her wedding gown. She thanks Lois for all her work, then gets another voice message from Davis. She tells Lois about Davis nearly kissing her, but says all she wants is Jimmy. All she needs now is something borrowed to complete her wardrobe, so she starts ruffling around the loft. She find's Clark's lead box and thinks it would be a great idea for Clark to carry the green K down the aisle. Umm, Chloe, even as mindwiped as you are, surely you remember the Wall of Weird and YOUR theory about the meteor rocks being responsible. Oh well, put it down to a morbid sense of humour. Clark arrives and tells her to put the rock away: he's got a much better idea. He opens a year book and pulls out a pressed white rose: its the one Chloe gave him at the spring formal. ♥ ♥ ♥ Both Chloe and Lois are touched that he kept it: he says he never throws out good memories.
Meanwhile, Ollie has flown to Cuba and stalks into a warehouse. Without warning, he shoot at a figure in the dark. He says goodbye to Lex but then finds out he only shot a mannequin. A figure then comes out of the dark and kicks him. Its Lana!
Act Three begins with Lana saying that she also has been pursuing the transmissions, although she's not convinced Lex is alive. Lana is also perturbed that Ollie/GA thought he was going to kill Lex: he should be better than that. If they're trying to be the good guys, they should all try to be more like Clark. She then asks how Clark is doing: Ollie tells her to go to the wedding and see for herself. It's what Clark would do after all.
Back at the KF, Clois prepare for their roles in the big day. As usual, Clark needs help getting dressed up. ♥ Lois reveals that the secret to cufflinks is to make sure this part is straight upright so it can slide right in. ♥ They exchange awkward looks, then Lois gives him Jimmy's vows and starts to move away. She is then thrilled to hear Clark saying words of love, but is shaken when she realizes he's just reading the vows. The cameraman suddenly appears and asks them to give testimonials. Relieved at the interruption, they agree.Cut to Davis, covered in blood, calling Chloe for help. He starts hauling garbage bags filled with gore to a dumpster but is surprised by a security guard. Davis says he couldn't control himself then warns the watchman to get away. He then staggers & starts to transform into something that then attacks and kills the horrifed watchman. Short scene but really effective.
Back at the KB, Chlark dance at the wedding reception. He tells her she was always the best friend he could ever have had: she's surprised at the past tense. She then tells him she's completely happy and feels like she has finally let go of a weight she'd been carrying around for years. Clark is saddened that his plan worked all too well. He then asks Lois to dance. What starts out as an act of social politeless turns into desire when Lois is unexpectedly knocked into his body. Seriously hot bit here with no dialogue. I want pictures!!! They move closer and are about to kiss when doom strikes. No, not that Doom. It's Lana. Lois moves away as Clark stares with puppy eyes at his former lover.
Act Four begins with Lois leaving the party with a bottle of champagne only to run into Ollie. She tells him she's having feelings for another man but is reluctanct to say more because of their past history. Ollie is really sweet when he tells her they should really move on and just let him be her friend. Lois tries to explain her turmoil at having feeling for this guy just sneak up on her and come to a peak today of all days and how maybe she got it wrong but she thought for once somebody needed her. Ollie comforts her that she wasn't wrong. He knows this because he knows Clark. ♥
In the loft, Lana gets a text message, "Did the archer believe you?" Ooh, she's still hiding something. Cool!! Clark enters and says that Chloe is happy she came but he could have done with some warning. The two natter on and Lana says she always dreamed of a wedding at the barn. Clark replies she might have got one if he'd given her Chloe's "wedding gift". Lana responds that she's forgiven him for the old lies but could never forgive him for taking the memory of who he is. Despite everything, she's content with where she is now. Clark concludes the obvious: it really is over. Phew! Lana says it hasn't been easy to move on but they need to admit they were never meant to be.
Attracted by celebration noises in the barn, Clana return to the party as Chimmy cut the wedding cake. But the barn starts to shake and then the lights start to flicker. Something punches through the wall and a beam falls on Lana. A scaly creature appears out of the darkness and stalks towards Chloe, spreading mayhem with each step. Clark is initially frozen but moves forward to stop it. The creature easily blocks his punch and swats him into the loft, where he is immobilized by the kryptonite that Chloe had taken out earlier. The cameraman is next to fall, leaving the camera running to document the horror. Jimmy tries to defend Chloe but is nearly eviscerated. Lana, though wounded, rushes to Clark and locks away the kryptonite. But its too late: Ollie tells them Chloe's been taken.
Now that's what I call a wedding to remember!
Act Five begins in the hospital , overflowing with victims of D's rampage. Clark checks up on Lana and she tells him to go find Chloe. He meets Lois who tells him that Jimmy's situation is severe: he's being medevac'd to STAR City for specialized treatment. Lois decides to go with him, in part because of heartache over Clark and in part because she needs to keep busy. She asks Clark why such horrible things keep happening. Clark struggles to comfort her while dealing with his own guilt and grief. He promises they'll get Chloe back, but Lois is afraid the won't. She walks away in tears.
Then we have a montage to the tune of "Don't take your love away from me" by VAST to end the episode.
- Lois looks back at Clark
- Lana is getting treated and her eyes seem to glow darkly
- Beauty & the Beast-like, D takes the bride away. Snow starts to fall. He finally arrives at the darkened Fortress and lays Chloe down. She opens her eyes, which seem to glow darkly. She smiles in delight.
- And watching it all like a spider in its web, we see the back of a bald man with wires radiating from his naked body. Lex is back!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Wow. OK, so Lana returned and the world didn't end. She's kicked Ollie's ass as he deserved, but is being true to S7 Lana by keeping secrets from Clark. Who is she working with???? What's Brainiac up to with D? How on earth can Clark cope with two of his biggest enemies working together? What's Lex's agenda? Is he working with Brainiac, or will he eventually try to defeat him? Just what did the FOS do to/with him? The writers this season have definitely taken some lessons from the success of Lost and Heroes to heart: they're no longer worried about leaving threads dangling for multiple episodes. And yet, they still make each episode tell its own story as well. Kudos!
